Italiano is official
Beşiktaş confirmed Vincenzo Italiano as the new head coach on Saturday. The club released a statement welcoming him to the Beşiktaş family, saying they believe he will provide "significant services" to the club (4). Italiano joins from Bologna after a strong Serie A campaign and previously took Fiorentina to back-to-back Europa Conference League finals (5).
"This is the right place for me"
Italiano didn't hold back in his first comments. "I'm proud that Beşiktaş came to me first," he said (3). He described the club as "an ambitious project, exactly like me" and added: "Incredibly passionate fans, total passion: this is the right place for me" (8). He also told Italian media: "The sun is on our side. In Italy, we have a saying: the sun only kisses the beautiful and the fortunate" (8).
First transfer target: Orsolini
Italiano may bring a familiar face with him. Reports claim Beşiktaş has already made Bologna winger Riccardo Orsolini the first transfer priority, following discussions between board members Adalı and Özen (7). Orsolini played under Italiano at Bologna and knows his system inside out.
Pavlidis price tag
Benfica will only sell striker Pavlidis for €50 million, according to Portuguese reports (2). That's a steep asking price, even for a club planning a major squad overhaul.
Hekimoglu: Dutch double
Young forward Mustafa Hekimoglu has a choice to make. Both FC Utrecht and Vitesse are interested in taking him on loan from Beşiktaş (9). A move to the Eredivisie could give the 20-year-old the regular minutes he needs.
Fatawu on the radar
Leicester City winger Abdul Fatawu has emerged as a target as Beşiktaş looks to meet the league's foreign player quota. The Ghana international is being monitored as part of the club's wider recruitment drive (10).
Fan reactions
The Italiano appointment has Black Eagles fans buzzing. His quote about the sun and the beautiful has already become a talking point on social media, with many supporters reading it as a sign of genuine ambition rather than a standard PR line. Önder Özen's comments about targeting seven new signings, including six foreigners mostly under 23, have added to the sense that a serious rebuild is underway. Join the discussion